Spotify has officially unveiled its “100 Greatest Pop Songs of the Streaming Era,” and African artists are making waves on the global stage.
The list, compiled by Spotify’s editorial team of cross-disciplinary editors and curators, spans music from 2015 to today, ranking songs not purely by streams but by cultural impact, musicality, storytelling, and lasting influence. Three African hits cracked the top 100, proving the continent’s pop dominance.
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Number 8: “One Dance” – Drake, Wizkid & Kyla
Securing a spot in the top ten is no small feat, and the 2016 Afrobeats-infused collaboration “One Dance” earned its place. Drake, who had already experimented with Afrobeats via an unofficial remix of Wizkid’s “Ojuelegba,” broke fully into global pop with this track.
Blending Afrobeats and dancehall rhythms, “One Dance” not only gave Drake his first Billboard Hot 100 number one as a lead artist but also became the first song in Spotify history to reach one billion streams. Beyond the numbers, it proved that Afrobeats could anchor mainstream pop without losing its authenticity, opening doors for countless artists afterward.
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Number 29: “Calm Down” – Rema
Rema’s “Calm Down” had already been making waves before Selena Gomez jumped on the remix, but the collaboration elevated the track into a global phenomenon. The remix fused Rema’s playful energy with Gomez’s polished confidence, producing a song that transcended borders. “Calm Down” became the most successful Afrobeats single in Billboard history and the first African artist-led track to hit one billion streams on Spotify.
The track redefined what a global remix could achieve, amplifying rather than diluting the original sound.
Number 50: “Water” – Tyla
Tyla’s “Water” represents another landmark moment, introducing the South African genre Amapiano to a worldwide audience. Known for its log drum and hypnotic grooves, the track retained the genre’s distinctiveness while making waves globally.
The song won the inaugural Grammy for Best African Music Performance and made Tyla the first South African solo artist to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 in 55 years. Its placement at number 50 signals that Amapiano has officially arrived on the international pop stage.
Spotify’s staff picks highlight that African artists are no longer novelties on global pop lists. Afrobeats and Amapiano now sit comfortably alongside the likes of Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and The Weeknd, demonstrating that Africa’s sounds are reshaping the very landscape of contemporary pop music.
Spotify’s staff ranks Top Pop Songs of the Streaming era:
#1 drivers license
#2 Pink Pony Club
#3 Cruel Summer
#4 Don’t Start Now
#5 Run Away With Me
#6 Sorry
#7 Green Light
#8 One Dance
#9 BIRDS OF A FEATHER
#10 no tears left to cry
#11 Good Luck, Babe!
#12 Can’t Feel My Face…— chart data (@chartdata) February 24, 2026